ASNT Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Practice Test

What type of radiation do radio waves, microwaves, and infrared waves belong to?

1. Ionizing radiation

2. Nonionizing radiation

3. High-energy radiation

4. Nuclear radiation

The correct answer is: Nonionizing radiation

Radio waves, microwaves, and infrared waves belong to the category of nonionizing radiation. Nonionizing radiation is characterized by its lower energy levels, which are insufficient to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms or molecules in materials they interact with. As a result, nonionizing radiation does not have enough energy to cause ionization in the media through which it passes. In contrast, ionizing radiation, which includes X-rays and gamma rays, has enough energy to strip electrons away from atoms, leading to potential chemical changes and biological effects at the cellular level. High-energy radiation typically refers to the more energetic forms of both ionizing and nuclear radiation, which concern safety in contexts involving harmful exposure levels. Nuclear radiation generally pertains to emissions from radioactive decay, including alpha and beta particles as well as gamma rays. In summary, the classification of radio waves, microwaves, and infrared waves as nonionizing radiation highlights their lower energy characteristics and role in various technologies, such as communication and thermal applications, without posing the same hazards associated with ionizing radiation.